DEM Lifts Shellfishing Ban

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management lifted its emergency shellfish closures Friday. The DEM reports parts of the Rhode Island Sound, lower Narragansett Bay, and lower Sakonnet River are no longer testing for high levels of domoic acid- a toxin harmful to humans.

The DEM first called the ban March 1 when a routine check tested positive for the toxin in mussels. The neurotoxin is born out of algae and can cause shellfish poisoning in humans who come in contact with it.

DEM officials tell consumers shellfish currently on the market is free of domoic acid.